Washing-machine.



No. 769,890. PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904.

y E. L. DAVIS.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

messes:-

UNITED STATES Patented September 13, 1904.

EEASTUS L. DAVIS, or SANTA RoSA, CALIFORNIA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 769,890, dated September 13, 1904.

Application filed February 26,1904. Serial Nox 195,404. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERASTUS L. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Santa' Rosa, in the countyof Sonoma and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in clothes-washing machines. Its object is to provide a practical, simple, durable, and efficient mechanical washer which will automatically adjust itself to any quantity of clothes in the tub, which will not interfere with the wringer, which may be quickly folded back out of the wayto give access to the contents of the tub, which will not become loose-jointed, which will confine the steam, and which maybe operated with a minimum amount of exertion on the part of the housewife.

It consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of my improved washing-machine. Fig. 2 is a detail of the bearing-plate. Fig. 3 is a section on line y z/ of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of device shown in Fig. 1 on a smaller scale.

A represents a suitably-supported tub or container for the clothes and wash-water, having a concaved bottom, which is preferably corrugated, as shown. One end of the tub is provided with an upward extension 2, to which a wringer 3 may be attached. A cover 4, having shallow sides, is hinged to the opposite end of the tubby means of the links 5. rlhese link-hinges allow the front end of the cover to slide under and out from beneath the wringer without interfering at all with the latter. In other words, it permits of a limited reciprocating movement of the cover, in conjunction with its pivotal movement, and so avoids the necessity of removing the wringer every time the cover is closed down or lifted.

A dasher or rubber 6, having the arms 7 and a conveXed bottom, is hung on the links 8, which have one end pivoted to the tub and the other to the arms 7 about midway of their length. The downward movement of the links 8 iS limited by the Stops 9', so that when the rubber is inserted into the tub and the latter empty the rubber will normally hang centrally within the tub, with the bottom of the rubber substantially concentric with the bottoni of the tub, but out of contact therewith. Thus supported the rubber is freeto oscillate within the tub to perform its function as a washing agent or to be lifted out and turned back on the link-pivots.

The means for actuating the rubber are as follows: A crank-shaft 9 is journaled in the cover and is connected by a pitman 10 with a carriage or cross-head 11, Sliding in guides 12, also on the cover. The upper ends of the rubber-arms 7 and the cross-head 11 are connected by links 13. A rotary movement is given to the crank-shaft 9 by means of the crankhandle 14, or it is obvious that it may be connected with any suitable source of power. By rotating shaft 9 in either direction a reciprocating movement is given to the crosshead 11, whence an oscillating movement is transmitted to the rubber through the medium of the links 13.

By hanging the rubber on the links 8 and operating the rubber through the medium of the links 13 and cross-head 11 rather than operating it direct from the pitman the rubber adjusts itself automatically to any quantity of clothes placed in the tub, and it always exerts the same pressure on the clothes. It is immaterial whether the rubber is two inches or siX inches from the bottom of the tub. The links 8 and 13 form an adjustable toggle to allow of the necessary vertical adjustment of the rubber. On the other hand, if the pitman connected direct with the rubber the latter would not only be less free to adjust itself to different quantities of goods, but would actually bind if the crank were ever turned so that it pushed down on the pitman from the topthat is, the crank in such a case could only loe turned in onedirection.

The cover may belocked down onto the tub by any suitable means.

By this loose link connection of parts and mode of operating the rubber the entire washing attachment may be instantly folded back out of the tub, as indicated in dotted lines,

IOO

Fig. 1, and out of the way of the wringer without disturbing the latter in any way. Tub, cover, and rubber are thus connected together at all times, and there lare no parts to become lost or misplaced or to cause worry as to their place in the machine.

The movement of the rubber about its pivots on links 8 is limited by stops 16, so that the edge of the rubber nearest the hinged end of the cover will always engage the tub when folded back, as shown, and also insure the rubber dropping .in right position into the tub when the cover is closed down.

I-Ieretofore in washing-machines considerable annoyance has been occasioned by the wear of the various pivotal parts wherever iron worked on wood, and no matter how 'hard the wood might be the wear and eventual loosejointedness inevitably followed continual use.

Accordingly on the rubber-arms 7 I have shown a novel form of perforated bearingplate 17, having an annular boss 18, which is adapted to fit a corresponding perforation in either of the links 8 or 11. The height of the perforated boss 18 is slightly in excess of the thickness of a link, so that a bolt 19 when tightened will not bind the link and interfere with its proper pivotal movement. Thus I provide a simple bearing of metal on metal, and the subsequent wear is inconsequential. The bearing-plates 17 may be applied to any other part of the machine where there is the wear of a bolt on wood.

The closed cover prevents the Steam from coming up into the face of the operator, and the crank-handle attachment allows the operator to be seated at her work, thereby being saved the physical effort incident on the working of an ordinary washing-machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi 1,. In a washing-machine, the combination of a tub, a cover therefor and means whereby it has a limited sliding movement on the tub in opening and closing, a reciprocating member on the cover, a rubber, and connections between the rubber and the reciprocating member on the cover.

2. In a washing-machine, the combination of a tub, a cover therefor, a rubber, links having one end pivoted to the tub and the other to the `rubber, a reciprocating carriage on said cover, connections between said carriage and rubber and means for reciprocating the carriage to oscillate the rubber.

3. In a washing-machine, the combination of a tub, a cover therefor, a rubber, toggle members pivoted to the rubber one set of said members pivoted to the tub and the other to a part on the cover and means for imparting motion to said rubber.

4:. In a washing-machine, the combination of a tub, a hinged cover therefor', means hinging the cover to the tub and allowing the former to have a limited sliding movement on the tub in opening and closing, a rubber, a carriage slidably mounted on the cover, means for operating the carriage and connections 'between the carriage and the rubber whereby the latter is oscillated.

5. Ina washing-machine, the combination of a tub, a hinged cover therefor, link connections between the cover and the tub and allowing the former to have alimited sliding movement in opening and closing, a guide on the cover, a pitman having a carriage movable in said guide, means for operating the pitman, a rubber, a link connection between the rubber and the tub, and connections between the pitman and the rubber.

6. In a washing-machine, the combination of a tub, a cover therefor, a rubber, links having one end pivoted to the tub and the other to the rubber to pivotally sustain the latter and means for oscillating the rubber,

said means including a reciprocating part on the cover and link connections .between said reciprocating part and the rubber.

7. In a washing-machine, the combination of a' tub, a hinged cover therefor, a carriage mounted in the cover, a rubber, links supporting the rubber in the tub, a reciprocating part on the carriage and carried by the cover, links connecting said part and rubber, a crank-shaft and a pitman connecting said shaft and reciprocating parts.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witmesses.

ERASTUS L. DAVIS. Witnesses:

PETER C. MALLoRY, Bono O. REX. 

